Latest news with #DurangoHellcat
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Dodge Slapped With Two Durango-Related Lawsuits
Read the full story on The Auto Wire The Durango is at the center of two recent lawsuits filed by owners against Dodge for two very different reasons. One has to do with marketing practices, the other is more traditional with customers alleging a large flaw. Both could spell big trouble for the owners of the Durango Hellcat are upset because back when it debuted, then-CEO Tim Kuniskis said it would be a 'single model year run.' Many eagerly snatched up the high-powered crossover, only to later be shocked that Dodge didn't make 2021 the only model year for production. Instead, Dodge surprised everyone by announcing the return of the Durango Hellcat for the 2023 model year. Seven 2021 model year owners sued Dodge in 2023, but the case went to mediation for a possible resolution. However, that effort out of court failed recently, so the lawsuit is back on, as covered by Road & Track. The other lawsuit involves the Durango's famous 'racetrack' LED taillight, which apparently can be damaged by water, short circuit, and cost a lot of money to fix. The class action lawsuit filed recently says 2014 to 2023 model year Durangos have a defect that allows water intrusion into the taillight assembly. This means anything from rain, snow melt, even car washes can lead to water getting into the taillight, corroding connections, and shorting the whole thing out. But, according to Mopar Insiders, the class action lawsuit alleges other systems in the rear portion of the Durango can also fail as a result. Not only can your taillight go out, so can the reverse lights, license plate lights, even the rearview camera. Having to replace all of that gets expensive real fast. But it gets even worse. The lawsuit alleges that replacement taillight assemblies for the Durango still allow water to get inside, so the whole problem can happen over and over. Owners often notice condensation inside the taillight, then later things start going haywire. This comes at a time when the Dodge brand is already struggling with its image. The end of the line for the Challenger, the Charger transforming into something different, and sales being down combining with the lawsuits isn't great news for Dodge or parent company Stellantis. Images via Stellantis Join our Newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube page, and follow us on Facebook.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Dodge Durango's 'Racetrack' Taillights Short Circuit Due To Water, Cost $2,000 To Replace: Lawsuit
Dodge is currently facing lawsuits over the ancient Durango SUV on two fronts. In the first, angry Durango Hellcat owners are coming after the brand because they feel duped that Dodge continued production of the Hellcat after saying it would only be available for one model year. The second case is less frivolous: Durango owners have filed a class action suit over the SUV's distinctive "racetrack" LED taillights, and it's all because of water damage. Read more: Dodge Will Pay You $10 Per Horsepower To Buy A New Charger, Challenger, Or Durango According to Mopar Insiders, the class action suit is made up of owners of 2014 to 2023 Dodge Durangos; pre-facelift models sold from 2011 to 2014 don't have the racetrack lights, and the SUV's design hasn't been updated in the decade since the facelift came out. The owners claim the wraparound design of the Durango's large taillights makes them susceptible to water damage. This in turn can not only short circuit and damage the light itself, but also cause other electrical issues in the rear of the Durango. From Mopar Insiders: Water from sources like rain, car washes, melting snow, and other environmental factors allegedly enters the light assembly, leading to corrosion and burnout of the internal electrical components. Once water infiltrates the system, multiple essential rear-end systems are reportedly at risk of failure. These include the racetrack tail lights, backup lights, license plate lights, and even the rearview camera system. While it's not specified as to what exactly the owners want from Dodge when the outcome of the case is decided, those in the suit are going to have to wait awhile for a decision. Car Complaints says a pre-trial conference — which is just a meeting between the judge, plaintiff and defense lawyers about the case — won't happen until January 25, 2027. The 10-day trial won't start until a few days later, on February 1, 2027. A quick online search will show that Durango owners have had problems with the racetrack lights for years. Some owners have been giving instructions to others about how to drain the water from the light, which can be done but looks to be a lengthy process. Those that need to actually get the light replaced are in for a big repair bill, as just the lights by themselves are pricey. On the official Mopar parts website, the center tailgate lamp section will run you between $1,285 and $1,525 while the taillight on either side costs $684; the Mopar site has each piece on sale, and going through a wholesaler will save you a few hundred bucks on each part, but they're still expensive. From the looks of things, that's what owners are being charged for their repairs, too. Mopar Insiders says one Durango owner was quoted nearly $2,000 for the racetrack taillight replacement; another owner in Canada was quoted the same thing for the replacement light on their 2017 Durango, according to one owner forum. So how exactly is water getting into the light in the first place? It looks like it's just bad manufacturing. According to those same owner forums, multiple posters say they were told by Dodge techs that the light isn't being sealed properly during the Durango's production. One owner detailed how his light assembly wasn't sealed at the top, which let water into the light and led to an electrical burning smell filling the cabin. The dealer said there was a crack basically on the top of the track centered that was allowing water in. I saw it there for a while and figured it was part of the assembly. I had a really awful electrical burning smell in the cabin and come to find out it was the circuit board shorting out on the rear hatch. Want more like this? Join the Jalopnik newsletter to get the latest auto news sent straight to your inbox... Read the original article on Jalopnik.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Durango Hellcat Owners Sue Dodge Over Alleged Exclusivity Breach
⚡️ Read the full article on Motorious Dodge is facing a class-action lawsuit from a group of 2021 Durango Hellcat owners who claim the automaker misled them about the SUV's exclusivity. The lawsuit, filed in Delaware, alleges that Dodge falsely marketed the high-performance vehicle as a limited-production model, only to revive it for later model years. At the time of its initial release, Dodge announced that the 2021 Durango Hellcat would be a one-year-only special edition, with press materials and statements reinforcing its limited availability. The company initially planned to produce 2,000 units, later expanding to 3,000. In January 2021, Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis reaffirmed the model's exclusivity, calling it a "single model-year run" and emphasizing its rarity. However, Dodge reversed course in 2022, announcing that the Durango Hellcat would return for the 2023 model year. This decision angered early buyers who had purchased the vehicle under the impression that its scarcity would make it a valuable investment. Seven plaintiffs initially sued, but their case stalled in mediation before being revived in court. The lawsuit contends that if buyers had known Dodge would continue producing the Durango Hellcat, they wouldn't have paid premium prices for what they believed was a rare, high-value collector's item. Plaintiffs claim Dodge's marketing directly influenced their decision to buy the vehicle, and they argue that the automaker's actions have devalued their investments. Dodge, now part of Stellantis, has defended its position, arguing that it never explicitly stated the Durango Hellcat would never return. The company claims that production constraints caused by the COVID-19 pandemic initially limited production, rather than an intentional strategy to create exclusivity. The outcome of the case could have broader implications for automakers and how they market limited-production vehicles.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Durango Hellcat Owners Take Dodge To Court Over 'Bait And Switch'
Dodge Durango Hellcat owners are pissed, but not because of any issues with their 710-horsepower high-performance SUVs. When Dodge first announced the Durango Hellcat in 2020 it said the model would be a one-year-only special edition for the 2021 model year, but production of the SUV was brought back for 2023 and has continued since then. Those original owners have been locked in a legal battle with the automaker because they feel Dodge misled them over the Durango Hellcat's special edition status, and now both parties are going to court. Read more: What's The Point Of Mid-Grade Gasoline? The Durango Hellcat's combination of supercharged Hemi might and three-row family hauling capability was brilliant, putting it in a class of its own against myriad other high-performance SUVs. Buyers lined up to get their hands on one when order books opened at the end of 2020, especially after Dodge boss Tim Kuniskis confirmed that the Durango Hellcat would only be available for one model year: "The 2021 Durango Hellcat is only a single model-year run, ensuring that it will be a very special, sought-after performance SUV for years to come." In January 2021 just after the Hellcat first reached dealers it was nearly sold out; Dodge initially planned for a 2,000-unit production run but ended up building 3,000 2021 Durango Hellcats. Pretty impressive for an SUV that cost nearly $84,000. At the time, a company spokesperson confirmed to Jalopnik that there would be no Durango Hellcat allocations for 2022, reiterating that it was a 2021-only model. Then, in the summer of 2022, Dodge announced that the Durango Hellcat would return for the 2023 model year, which immediately pissed off existing owners — some were so mad that they took legal action. In March 2023, seven Durango Hellcat owners filed a suit in the U.S. District Court in Delaware against Dodge. Their argument? Dodge misled buyers of the original run of Durango Hellcats by continuing the SUV's production. The owners claim that had they known Dodge would make more Durango Hellcats after initially saying it would be a one year only model, they wouldn't have paid so much for one at the dealer. According to Car Complaints, the owners reference both Tim Kuniskis' statements about the Hellcat being available for just one year and Dodge's promomotional and press materials as evidence for the case. At the end of the day, this drama is all about value. The suit mentions that Dodge's implication that the Durango Hellcat would be a limited edition led the owners to purchase the SUVs as a "suitable investment." From Car Complaints: "The lawsuit alleges the plaintiffs purchased their SUVs as a "suitable investment," the implication being the 2021 SRT Hellcat was to be a "limited edition" vehicle that was never to be built again. The motion says: "Each Plaintiff alleges that they purchased the SRT Hellcat based upon Defendants' representations that it was a 'limited edition,' 'one-year model run only,' making it a 'suitable investment' and 'eventual collector's item.'" Dodge and the owners came close to resolving the case and had entered into mediation, but things fell through and the owners took the brand back to court. Dodge doesn't believe it misled anyone about the Durango Hellcat's production and says the case should be dismissed. According to Car Complaints, Dodge claims that the company's language at the time, both in official announcements and the words of Kuniskis, never stated that the Durango Hellcat wouldn't ever go into production again. From Car Complaints: "The plaintiffs quote Kuniskis from an article that also says: "[T]he Durango Hellcat is not limited, not serialized like what we do with [Dodge Demon]" and the 2021 model year run of the vehicle did "not imply the end of the product lifecycle." Dodge is also claiming that the limited production of the Durango Hellcat had more to do with production difficulties arising from the Covid-19 pandemic; this is why just 3,000 were initially made. As for the owners who said they bought the SUV as an investment, Dodge called them out over those claims, saying that none of them mentioned storing or limiting their use of their Durango Hellcats, nor did any of the owners "claim they tried to sell their SUVs but the vehicles had lost value." Dodge also points out how none of the owners' Durangos are defective in any way or don't perform as advertised. Whatever happens, this case doesn't seem as if it'll be over anytime soon. Meanwhile Dodge has continued production of the Durango Hellcat. There's currently three 2025 model year special edition versions available to those with deep enough pockets: The Durango Hellcat Silver Bullet, Durango Hellcat Hammerhead and Durango Hellcat Brass Monkey. Each one will set you back $114,920 including destination charges, a hell of a lot more than the original 2021 Hellcats. This isn't the first time owners of a certain model have come after an automaker. In the 1970s, Cadillac Eldorado Convertible owners sued GM over a similar situation, with the owners claiming GM's continued production of the convertible misled buyers after the company said that it would stop making them. Read the original article on Jalopnik.
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Yahoo
Dodge Durango Hellcat Races Jeep Trackhawk Beside Cops
⚡️ Read the full article on Motorious In a startling display of speed and disregard for public safety, two high-performance SUVs, a Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat and a Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk, engaged in an illegal street race, all caught on a lengthy video exceeding 27 minutes. The event took place under the nose of law enforcement, adding to the reckless nature of the encounter. The Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk, known for reaching 60 mph from a standstill in just about 3.5 seconds and completing a quarter-mile in approximately 11 seconds, brought formidable specs to the matchup. It boasts a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 engine, delivering 707 horsepower and 645 lb-ft of torque. Facing off against it was the Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat, which shares a similar engine configuration but claims slightly higher output figures at 710 horsepower. Matching the Trackhawk's performance, the Durango Hellcat also tops out at an impressive 180 mph. The race, which occurred in clear view of patrolling police officers, was initiated with a dramatic start as a bystander used a blowtorch to heat the asphalt, enhancing tire traction for the imminent sprint. The video captures the SUVs roaring off, heating up their tires before blasting down the street in a high-stakes, high-speed run. The recording of the race indicates the immense power and capability of both vehicles, yet also serves as a stark reminder of the dangers associated with street racing. The spectacle concludes with a significant exchange of money between participants, underscoring the illegal betting accompanying such underground events. Authorities and safety advocates continue to stress that racing should be confined to appropriate venues like racetracks where safety measures and regulations are strictly enforced. The public roads are no place for testing the limits of these powerful vehicles or the fortitude of their drivers.
